Interns to continue work stoppage at Mitford over security concerns

The protesters say they will hold the strike on Monday and Tuesday as campus security has yet to be “fully” restored

Intern doctors at Dhaka’s Sir Salimullah Medical College Mitford Hospital have announced they will continue their work stoppage as their demand for extended security at the facility has not yet been “fully” met.

Meanwhile, the students of the college have called for human chains and protest marches on campus to press the same demand.

Dr Iftekhar Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury, president of the Intern Doctors Society (IDS), told bdnews24.com that the decision was made during a meeting between intern doctors and protesting students on Sunday evening.

“Some of our demands have been partially met. We held a meeting to discuss the situation.

“Since the hospital’s security has not yet been fully ensured, all intern doctors have decided to continue the work abstention for the next two days (Monday and Tuesday). However, those providing emergency services will be exempt from the strike.”

On Wednesday, a brutal public killing took place outside Mitford Hospital, where a trader named Lal Chand, alias Md Sohag, was bludgeoned to death. The 32-year-old from Barishal had a wire trading business in the region.

The gruesome incident’s viral video sparked nationwide outrage. Several organisations have been holding programmes demanding punishment for the perpetrators.

Mitford Hospital has 230 intern doctors. The IDS announced a one-day work stoppage on Sunday. The students of the college later declared a class boycott in solidarity.